Dustin Hoffman's 'Luck' Gets Early Debut Before Regular Run in January 2012

Before it starts airing on its regular slot on January 29, the pilot for the sports drama series will premiere on December 11 after the 'Boardwalk Empire' season finale.

HBO has planned an early start for its new show "Luck". The network has announced that it will premiere the pilot for the Dustin Hoffman-starring series on Sunday, December 11 at 10:00 P.M., following the second season finale of "Boardwalk Empire".

However, the horse-racing drama will not return with a follow-up episode until January 29, 2012 which is set as the date for its official debut. Starting that day, the new series will air on its regular Sunday slot.

Presenting a provocative look at horse racing - the owners, gamblers, jockeys and diverse gaming industry players, "Luck" has Hoffman starring as "a man in his late 60s just released from four years in prison who's autodidactic, intelligent, and deeply involved in gambling."

Exec producer David Milch previously gushed about the show, "It's immersion into a total world, not just of horse racing, but of luck, combined with skill that can have the power to change our lives." Other actors supporting the series are Nick Nolte, Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Richard Kind, Ian Hart and Kevin Dunn among others.